DETROIT, (July 2, 2013) – Team Cadillac drivers Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim are ready for the Pirelli World Challenge Cadillac Grand Prix of Lime Rock, July 4-6.
After a month off, Team Cadillac comes into Lime Rock Park tied with Audi for first in the manufacturer standings, seven races into the 14-race schedule. O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) is 146 points behind series leader James Sofronas. Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) is 59 points behind his teammate. O’Connell has had a strong first half of the year winning two races, the first at Circuit of the America’s (COTA), the second at Detroit. Pilgrim has also had a stout first half of the season, posting six top-five finishes with two second-place runs at Long Beach and Detroit.
O’Connell is a native of the northwest Connecticut area, born in nearby Poughkeepsie, New York. His father grew up there and later moved to Riverside, Connecticut. The O’Connell family burial plot is in Berry Town, about 20-miles from the track.
“I saw my first car race at Lime Rock Park,” O’Connell said. “I must have been maybe seven years old. I just remember being captivated by all of the action. We sat atop the hill overlooking turns two, three and four.”
The defending GT Champion will run the 1.5-mile, seven turn circuit without the chicane for the first time.
“Lime Rock Park is so short, we will have to deal with a lot of traffic,” he said. “So having a Cadillac CTS-V that is nimble will be critical. Since we are not using the chicane, and I’ve never run the circuit without it, I’ve found in the past that if I like my car going through West Bend, I tend to like it everywhere. I would for sure expect the Audi to be competitive this weekend. When I broke in the second race at COTA I had the opportunity to watch them through the fourth gear carousel portion of the track. Simply put, they were in a different league than every other car out there.”
Pilgrim likes the short layout of Lime Rock Park.
“I have always enjoyed Lime Rock. It’s a very different type of road course,” Pilgrim said. “The downhill right hander onto the front straight is one of my favorite turns. I believe car setup on this track is key, more so than on most road courses. There is no one corner that I focus on for setup of the Cadillac, but getting through the fast downhill right hander onto the front straight is key to a quick lap for sure.”
The Floridian has a history at Lime Rock.
“My best memory at Lime Rock was running about 60 cars in a Firestone Firehawk race there in the late 1980s,” he said. “That series was so popular. We had 60 cars in one class running for six hours. It was traffic insanity!”
The Pirelli World Challenge GT Series will run a double race weekend, July 5 and 6. The races from Lime Rock will be televised on NBC Sports, Saturday, July 20 at 4 pm ET.
LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 2, 2013) – Two weeks after both its Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars completed the Le Mans 24 Hours, Corvette Racing returns stateside to continue defense of its GT driver, team and manufacturer championships in the American Le Mans Series. Next up is scenic Lime Rock Park and the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix on Saturday, July 6.
The fourth ALMS round of the year will air live starting at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with simultaneous live streaming on ESPN3 beginning with a 2:45 p.m., pre-race show. It’s an event Corvette Racing has won four times but none since 2008.
At 1.474 miles with seven turns, Lime Rock Park is the shortest track on the ALMS calendar but offers a surprisingly quick lap with average speeds in qualifying nearing 105 mph. The compact nature of the venue coupled with the two-hour, 45-minute race length means constant overtaking and frequent car-to-car contact.
Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen return to ALMS competition as the most recent winners in the GT class at Laguna Seca in May. The pairing – fourth in GTE Pro at Le Mans with Jordan Taylor – drive the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R.
Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner share the No. 4 Compuware Corvette. The defending ALMS GT champions – seventh with Richard Westbrook at Le Mans – stand second in this year’s drivers’ standings and are three points out of first. Magnussen and Garcia are fifth but just 12 points from the lead. The Lime Rock round pays 20 points to the race-winners, 16 for second and 13 for third.
Corvette Racing leads the team standings, as does Chevrolet the manufacturers’ race.
“Le Mans was as challenging as ever. We battled the weather as well as the competition and I can tell you we are glad to get back to racing in the ALMS,” said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing Program Manager. “The crowd is always great at Lime Rock, and the racing is as tough as anywhere else we compete the rest of the season. At just 1.5 miles in length, Lime Rock presents some unique challenges. You can’t make a green flag pit stop without losing a lap, so your strategy there will most likely determine your level of success. Our guys thrive on that pressure and are ready to go racing again.”
EDITORS: High-resolution images of Corvette Racing are available on the Team Chevy media site for editorial use only.
American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix (all times ET)
• Qualifying: 4:35 p.m., Friday, July 5
• Race: 3 p.m., Saturday, July 6
Lime Rock: Watch It!
Friday, July 5-Saturday, July 6 (all times ET)
• Qualifying: 4:25 p.m., Friday, July 5 (ESPN3)
• Race (TV): 3 p.m., Saturday, July 6 (ESPN2)
• Web: 2:45 p.m., Saturday, July 6 (ESPN3)
ALMS GT Championship Standings
Driver Standings
1. Dirk Muller – 42
2. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 39
3 .Dominik Farnbacher/ Marc Goossens – 37
4. Bill Auberlen/Maxime Martin – 34
5. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 30
Team Standings
1. Corvette Racing – 56
2. BMW Team RLL – 52
3. SRT Motorsports – 37
4. Risi Competizione – 28
5. Paul Miller Racing – 26
Manufacturer Standings
1. Chevrolet – 59
2. BMW – 52
3. Ferrari – 43
4. SRT – 40
5. Porsche – 37
Corvette Racing at Lime Rock
Year: 2004
Class: GTS
Drivers: Fellows/O’Connell, Beretta/Gavin
Result: 2nd, 1st
Car: Corvette C5-R
Notes: Beretta pole, fastest race lap
Year: 2005
Class: GT1
Drivers: Fellows/O’Connell, Beretta/Gavin
Result: 2nd, 1st
Car: Corvette C6.R
Notes: Beretta pole, fastest race lap
Year: 2006
Class: GT1
Drivers: Fellows/O’Connell, Beretta/Gavin
Result: 2nd, 4th
Car: Corvette C6.R
Notes: Beretta fastest race lap
Year: 2007
Class: GT1
Drivers: Magnussen/O’Connell, Beretta/Gavin
Result: 2nd, 1st
Car: Corvette C6.R
Notes: O’Connell fastest race lap
Year: 2008
Class: GT1
Drivers: Magnussen/O’Connell, Beretta/Gavin
Result: 1st, 2nd
Car: Corvette C6.R
Notes: Gavin pole, Beretta fastest race lap
Year: 2010
Class: GT
Drivers: Magnussen/O’Connell, Beretta/Gavin
Result: 12th, 5th
Car: Corvette C6.R
Notes:
Year: 2011
Class: GT
Drivers: Beretta/Milner, Gavin/Magnussen
Result: 9th, 10th
Car: Corvette C6.R
Notes:
Year: 2012
Class: GT
Drivers: Garcia/Magnussen, Gavin/Milner
Result: 2nd, 3rd
Car: Corvette C6.R
Notes:
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“Because it is such a short track, everything has to run really, really smooth. It is easy to lose time and get in a position that conflicts with your strategy. You must run the whole race full-on and 100 percent. Knowing we ran a perfect race at Laguna – and I have to say we almost ran a perfect race at Le Mans – we need a repeat to be successful at Lime Rock. Our crew is running at its best and is pumped in the job they have done. We have to be consistent and not make any mistakes. That is what it takes every race to win in the GT class.”
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“I enjoy driving at Lime Rock. It’s a very short lap and the penalty for making a mistake can be quite big. Lime Rock is a fun track with interesting corners and is very, very old-school. In the past we have done quite well there but it has been awhile since we have won a race there but maybe that means we are due. It will be a case of us trying to have another race like Laguna Seca where we were almost perfect. With the competition being as equal and difficult as it has been in the first three ALMS races, it will take a perfect race with perfect pit stops and a good-handling race car. We know we have that and need to execute on race day.”
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“At Le Mans, you have 55 cars on a long track. At Lime Rock, you feel like you have 200 cars because there is no place for you to run off and hide. You can’t get a nice little piece of tarmac to run around by yourself for two hours and 45 minutes. It’s one of those places where you can never let your guard down even for a millisecond. You’re either on top of someone else or someone is coming to overtake you. You have to have eyes in the back of your head to deal with the traffic situation. The likes of someone like Brian (Hoye, No. 4 crew chief) spotting for us it critical too. There are people coming from every which way, not to mention incidents that may be developing in front.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“Le Mans wasn’t a great race for us. It was frustrating on many levels. But coming back to the U.S., I think we’ll be on par and pace with our competitors. Once we get back going again at Lime Rock, we will be right in the thick of things again. Our focus turns back to our duties here in the ALMS and putting Le Mans behind us. Lime Rock is tough both physically and mentally. There are no breaks; you’re always working. I’ve had tough races there where I’ve driven two hours in the car with high heat humidity and had to work hard to survive there. It’s one of those races that you know what to expect – hot, humid and tough.”
The Victory is the Second Consecutive in 2013 for Barbosa and Fittipaldi in Corvette DP and Fourth Win in Five Races for Camaro GT.R Piloted by Liddell and Edwards
WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 30, 2013) – Action Express Racing driver Joao Barbosa battled his way to Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International last year in the difficult and prestigious GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Six Hours of The Glen. Today, behind the wheel of the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette Daytona Prototype (DP) with his new co-driver, Christian Fittipaldi, Barbosa made a return trip to the Winner’s Circle to occupy the top step on the podium and once again collect the winner’s trophy for the overall win.
The pair combined to lead 30 of the 171 laps completed in the six-hour race that saw bright sunny conditions quickly replaced with heavy rain that was just as quickly replaced with blue skies and warmer temperatures. Fittipaldi held off all challengers in the final stint of the race to bring the Corvette DP to the checkered flag first.
It is the second consecutive win and the third consecutive podium finish for Barbosa and Fittipaldi this season. The victory moved the team from fifth in the DP team standings to third.
Not to be outdone, John Edwards and Robin Liddell powered the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro GT.R to the win in the Rolex Series Grand Touring Class (GT), also for the second consecutive year. The pair combined to lead a race-high 67 laps of the 164 run by the leaders in the GT class.
It is the fourth victory in the last five races for Edwards and Liddell, and closed the team to within six points of the leaders in the GT class standings.
“Our Chevrolet teams rose to the occasion today, and dealt with some changing and sometimes difficult circumstances throughout the Six Hours of the Glen,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet Racing Program Manager, GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. “It is always a rewarding experience for everyone associated with the Team Chevy program in the Rolex Series to score a win in both Daytona Prototype and Grand Touring as we did today. Congratulations to the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP team and the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro team on their repeat victories in this prestigious race.”
Equaling its best finish of the season, a runner-up run at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the No. 3 8Star Motorsports Corvette DP gave Chevrolet the first and second spots on today’s DP podium. Team owner Enzo Potolicchio started the race, and then Stephane Sarrazin and Michael Valiante shared the driving duties for remainder of the event. Valiante was in the cockpit for the final stint to make a charge for the win in the closing laps.
The two Corvette Daytona DP teams that came into today’s race holding the first and second spots in the standings suffered setbacks early in the race. The No. 10 Velolcity Worldwide Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP had a mechanical issue with the shifter linkage on the opening lap of the race. The team was able to make repairs and the car driven by Max Angelelli and Jordan Taylor returned to competition. The team was credited with a 10th place finish and now sits in a tie in the standings for the top spot.
The No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP piloted by Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney came into the race second in the standings, but also had to battle back from a mechanical problem early in the race. Something went awry in the steering and sent it on an off-course excursion. The team made repairs in the paddock and got the “Red Dragon” back in competition, but on the long track in a race that didn’t see a great deal of attrition, the team was relegated to a 14th place in class finishing position. They now sit fourth in the team standings.
In Saturday’s GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, the No. 9 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro GS.R led the way for Team Chevy posting a sixth-place finish.
Next on the schedule for both the Rolex Series and the Continental Tire Challenge will be the Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25-26, 2013.
DRIVER POST RACE QUOTES:
NO. 5 ACTION EXPRESS RACING CORVETTE DAYTONA PROTOTYPE, OVERALL AND DP RACE WINNER:
CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI: ON HIS THOUGHTS AS THE RACE CAME TO A CLOSE: “I don’t know. I was on the limit all the time.”
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE RACE. THAT WAS A FANTASTIC FINAL FEW LAPS. WERE YOU MORE CONCERNED ABOUT MICHAEL VALLENTE CATCHING YOU, OR THOSE LAPPED CARS THAT BOTH OF YOU WERE STARTING TO APPROACH ON THE FINAL LAP?
“I guess both. I knew that the No. 3 car had a very strong piece. They showed it a couple of times during the race. They were definitely stronger than us. But I think we played the game better than they did. And we, as a team, won the race today. Hats off to Joao, who drove an outstanding stint. And man, I’m very happy. Two in a row is a very nice feeling. We led at the three-hour mark and won the race, so it couldn’t have been a better weekend.”
YOU ALMOST HAD A FLAWLESS BECAUSE THERE AT THE END WHEN YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THE BOOT, YOU GOT SIDEWAYS. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? AND DID YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE THROWN AWAY THE WIN?
“I was under limit. I was very heavily under limit every single lap that I could do and maybe I ran a little bit over a little bit. But I managed to catch it, I guess. That’s where 42 years of age and 20-some years of 30 years of racing counts a little bit. And I’m happy that that came into the play. That definitely helped me a little bit like experience over there and it was a great week and a great day. We didn’t have the quickest car on the track today. And I just think that the whole group as a team did an excellent job.”
JOAO BARBOSA: TALK ABOUT THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN YOU AND CHRISTIAN AND THE TEAM: “It is working isn’t it? It’s like they say ‘We are in it to win it’. This was a great points day for us. We led at the three-hour mark. We led at six hours. We won the race overall. It is looking great for us in the points now. I think we made a great click. This Action Express team, man…the chemistry that is going on is unbelievable. The car is running excellent. Christian did a fantastic job. He is a little worn out, but he’ll get over it (SMILES). What can I say, this group of guys has done a tremendous job, and the car drove awesome today.”
HOW SATISFYING IS THIS TO HAVE TWO WINS IN A ROW? LAST YEAR, YOU WERE USUALLY AT TEAM AROUND FOURTH OR FIFTH. NOW, YOU ARE SHOWING UP AND WINNING RACES. “I don’t agree with that. We won the Six Hours last year. So, this team has been doing phenomenal. Obviously the chemistry is working so well and we were able to make the car go fast and these guys are awesome. They did a tremendous job. Every pit stop was great and we were able to bring the car home again in first place. Two wins and a second-place in the last three races and it is looking good. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
NO. 57 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO GT.R, GT CLASS WINNER:
JOHN EDWARDS: YOU HAD TO SIT THERE AND WATCH ROBIN WORK SO HARD THAT LAST STINT, HOW HARD IS THAT? “It was really tough, especially with the changing conditions. I’ve always said I prefer to be in the car at the end, because sitting on the pit stand I just get a nervous twitch going on with my leg. That is the worst part of the race for me. When I got out of the car, that was the most nervous part for me. Ultimately the car was good in the dry, and we were hoping it wouldn’t rain because those conditions are really tough, and you might throw it off even if you are as good of a driver as anyone can be.”
ROBIN LIDDELL: THE PRESSURE WAS ON THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH WASN’T IT? “Yes, I kept forcing myself to stay focused. That is a dangerous kind of gap to have, four seconds or so. I was fully expecting some rain, and we obviously saw some dark clouds coming, So I was expecting more rain, or a safety car or something. I was just trying to stay focused on the job at hand. I just want to say thanks to everybody here. The Camaro has been fantastic. John did a great job. I’ve been with this team for six years, and this is probably the best team result I’ve ever seen for us. Everyone contributed in such an important part. It was a proper team effort the whole weekend. I’m really, really happy for the guys. It was brilliant.”
YOU GUYS ARE ON FIRE. TELL US ABOUT YOUR RACE TODAY:
“Well, it was a tough race. Last year, we won this race and we were pretty dominant here, to be fair, last year. The chassis have always been good right here and obviously the guys, we’ve got probably the best crew out there. We’ve all in all got the best team in pit lane, I think. Obviously I think everybody made a massive contribution on the team. John hung on there when it was raining, on slicks. We were just trying to keep him calm and not worry too much about dropping time to the No. 69 because we knew it was going to turn into a mess, which it did. And then obviously we were still on slicks and they’d gone to wet. So confidence in the guys to do that and if we made a mistake, we made a mistake. But ultimately, we didn’t really have a car which we could drive away with. We had a car that was competitive, but not one that we could lead the rest of the pack, as last year. So we had to work a lot harder. But some good calls getting the car in just before that caution got us track position, and then near the end there just stopping a bit out of sequence to get track position in case it went yellow. I was really expecting some rain at the end, or a late caution, but it didn’t come. I just kept my head down and kept reeling off the laps. With a near to two-minute lap, that last 15 minutes goes quite quickly around here.”
MICHAEL VALIANTE: ON THE STRONG RUN AT THE END: “It was great to be paired with Stephane (Sarrazin). We hit it off right away. He is a fantastic driver. Really happy to be with the team and him. Everything went to plan. We had a few hiccups, but we were so close at the end. It was a really tough race. Stephane has done a great job all weekend. If anything, the traffic was really tough at the end. Going up the chicane, I lost four seconds because two GT cars decided to race me. I was alongside of them, and that really cost us a lot of time. We can’t complain. The team has done an amazing job. It’s first year with the team. Stephane and my first race together, so for a podium, I am happy. But, I really wanted to win.”
Fourth, seventh place in final Le Mans for C6.R with new car looming for ‘14
LE MANS, France (June 23, 2013) – Corvette Racing and its two Compuware Corvette C6.Rs completed the most demanding auto race in the world today by finishing in the top seven of the GTE Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Jordan Taylor brought home the No. 73 Compuware Corvette in fourth place after starting seventh. It was a remarkable comeback that saw the trio pick up three spots in the final six hours. The No. 74 Compuware Corvette finished seventh with Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen and Richard Westbrook driving.
All six drivers and the two crews weathered constantly changing conditions and 10 safety car periods – most of which required long runs behind the safety cars. No one in either garage could remember such a volatile event.
“Chevrolet was truly honored to compete in the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “While it certainly was a challenging 24-hour event, I am proud that the entire Corvette Racing team exhibited a ‘never give up’ approach all race long. We look forward to returning next year for the 15th time at Le Mans and our first with the next-generation Corvette race car.”
Typical Le Mans attrition began to enter the equation in the last quarter of the race. After running seventh and eighth for much of the first 18 hours, the Corvettes crept up the standings as other entries began to fall off. By the 23-hour mark, both cars ranked among the top five in the class thanks to an aggressive wet tire strategy when rain began to pelt the circuit again.
Taylor outpaced ex-F1 pilot Giancarlo Fisichella to hold on to the fourth position over the final 20 minutes. Unfortunately, Oliver Gavin had to pit the No. 74 Corvette due to an exhaust issue. Rather than risk near-certain damage, the team elected to pit and send Gavin back out for the final lap.
Corvette Racing returns to American competition July 5-6 for the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, the fourth round of the American Le Mans Series.
American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix (all times ET)
• Qualifying: 4:35 p.m., Friday, July 5
• Race: 3 p.m., Saturday, July 6
Lime Rock: Watch It!
Friday, July 5-Saturday, July 6 (all times ET)
• Qualifying: 4:25 p.m., Friday, July 5 (ESPN3)
• Race (TV): 3 p.m., Saturday, July 6 (ESPN2)
• Web: 2:45 p.m., Saturday, July 6 (ESPN3)
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 73 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“It has been a tough race. Obviously, Allan (Simonsen’s) fatal accident overshadows any race result. Even without the accident it has been a struggle for us all the way through. I think that if something comes of it, it will be from sheer determination and hard work by the whole team, carrying on as always even though it looked like we wouldn’t get anything out of this event. It says a lot about this team, the way they go about things, how hard they work and how they never give up.”
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 73 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“We did the best we could do. We performed maybe not 100 percent but certainly 99 percent, which is something we can be proud of. Before the race we knew we probably didn’t have the base we needed to fight for victory. We were seventh or eighth for most of the time, but just by keeping running and everybody giving it his 100 percent best – drivers as well as mechanics – we made it. And as it sometimes happens, near the end the race came to us and we finished fourth, which is more than we could have hoped for.”
JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 73 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“It was a stressful last hour of the race. I went in when it was pouring but luckily the safety car came out because the spray was just horrible going down the Mulsanne and into Indianapolis (Corner). You could barely see the car in front of you, even behind the pace car. We sat like that for a while and then it went green with some 30 minutes to go, when it was fully dry again, but on wet tires. I think everybody was kind of managing that a bit and we were just able to maintain our gap (to the Ferrari behind). I don’t quite know what happened to the rest of the guys but somehow we came out fourth having started seventh. I think that was the best we could have done today.”
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 74 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“You can take some positives from this. The car in the end was very good when the track rubbered in. We hit the chassis right. The team did a fantastic job once again and rolled with the punches through the weather. It was one of the toughest 24 Hours that I’ve ever done in respect to the weather changes and choices in tires because the track was in between so many times. You had to wing it and take a big gamble sometimes. Unfortunately I think that’s one of the things that really contributed to Allan Simonsen’s accident – slippery and tricky conditions and wet curbs he got on to. It was an awful thing to see. The focus and aim now is defending the ALMS championship. By the end of the race when we were in fourth, fifth and sixth, we realized we didn’t want to risk the car possibly catching fire with the exhaust problem or me getting myself burned. It wasn’t really worth it so we cooled down and came in. There was frustration not being able to fight and race to the very end. But we will fight another day.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 74 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“The team did a great job – period. We ran for 24 hours with no real mistakes. That’s what this race requires. The drivers did our job, the crew did their job – it just wasn’t our year, for sure. It’s a year like this where you learn a lot, you push hard no matter the conditions or situations and build character. I’ve never been part of a Le Mans that had conditions as difficult as this. They changed on every lap and on every corner. I’m really proud of all the guys at Corvette Racing – both crews and everyone involved. To perform in conditions like these shows how strong this team is.”
RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 74 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“It was a hell of a team performance, as ever. It was great to get back to finishing ways in a 24-hour race. We know what we have to do next year, and we’re going to come back and do it. Sometimes you have a fast car, and we’ve had that the last couple years and didn’t execute. This year we executed with a car that was less fast. Next year we will have a fast car and we’re going to execute.”
DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER
“This marked our 14th consecutive appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year’s race provided the deepest field of competition and some of the most challenging conditions we’ve ever seen. Everything, considered, I could not be more proud of our guys for bringing home fourth- and seventh-place finishes – once again, demonstrating the durability and reliability that has made Corvette so successful. We can now move forward and look excitedly to defending our championship in the ALMS and then to our return to Le Mans next year with the all-new C7.R.”
A team from Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) is building a new class of robot to compete in the upcoming Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Robotics Challenge, called the DRC. It’s a human-size robot that moves, not by walking, but on rubberized tracks on the extremities of each of its four limbs. Forty-nine frameless motors from Kollmorgen are one of the keys to this unique robot’s all-important drive joints.
Though the appearance of the CMU Highly Intelligent Mobile Platform, or CHIMP, is vaguely simian, its normal mode of locomotion will be much like that of a tank, with the tracks of all four limbs on the ground. This configuration offers a particular advantage when moving over debris and rough terrain. But CHIMP can also move on the treads of just two limbs when needed, such as when it must use one or more limbs to open a valve or to operate power tools.
CHIMP will have to do that and more during the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC), in which robots will have human-like capabilities to respond to calamities such as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster. Climbing ladders and driving vehicles are among the obstacles robots will face in environments engineered for people. The DRC kicked off on October 24, 2012, and is scheduled to run for approximately 27 months with three planned competitions: June 2013, December 2013, and December 2014.
The NREC entry, Tartan Rescue Team, is one of seven selected by DARPA for DRC Track A, in which each team will develop its own hardware and software.
CHIMP will be able to perform complex, physically challenging tasks through supervised autonomy. A remote, human operator will make high-level commands controlling the robot’s path and actions, while the robot’s on-board intelligence prevents collisions, maintains stability and otherwise keeps the robot from harm. The robot also will be pre-programmed to execute tasks such as grasping a tool, stepping on a ladder rung or turning a steering wheel without step-by-step direction from the human controller, circumventing the lag between command and execution.
“Humans provide high-level control, while the robot provides low-level reflexes and self-protective behaviors,” says Tony Stentz, NREC director and Tartan Rescue Team leader. “This enables CHIMP to be highly capable without the complexity associated with a fully autonomous robot.”
“This type of robot has tremendous potential,” Stentz adds. Such a robot would be suitable for a variety of tasks for which NREC now develops wheeled, tracked, and other conventional robots, such as remote inspection and monitoring of hazardous industrial facilities. As a unit of Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute, NREC performs advanced applied research and prototyping for commercial and governmental clients.
The human-centered nature of the DRC challenges would seem to favor a dynamically stable humanoid robot, the choice of five of the seven Track A teams, Stentz acknowledges. But his team’s focus on simplicity and dependability led them to choose tracked locomotion.
“When we walk or stand, our brains are actively controlling our balance all of the time,” Stentz says. This dynamic balance makes people nimble and enables them to run. But it also greatly increases the complexity, computational requirements, and energy consumption of a machine. So CHIMP is designed with static stability; it won’t fall down even if it experiences a computer glitch or power failure.
When necessary, however, the operator can control CHIMP’s individual joints, enabling it to adapt its motion to particular circumstances or extricate itself from tight spots. And for this robot, it’s all about the joints.
“In a pinch, it can do anything,” Stentz says.
CHIMP uses Kollmorgen frameless motor technology in each of its drive joints to deliver advanced functionality and significant performance benefits for the Robotics Challenge. This advanced functionality also paves the way for new mobile manipulation and manufacturing automation applications.
“The CHIMP design explicitly avoids many of the dynamic stability issues associated with humanoid robots. Tracks on all four limbs provide CHIMP with better mobility and with stability while opening doors, using tools, and turning valves. Sensors at the head and limbs provide the perception and feedback needed for CHIMP to manipulate objects, remove debris, and travel safely through the environment,” says National Robotics Engineering Center Business Development Director Steve DiAntonio. “The hardware components and software methods that form CHIMP are standalone technologies that, in their own right, offer new automation capabilities for facility maintenance, manufacturing, and material handling.”
For example, CHIMP’s drive joints, constructed of Kollmorgen motors integrated with gearing and housing components, actuate the robot’s 50 degrees of freedom and deliver advanced mobility, multi-limb manipulation, and human-like grasping capabilities not found in today’s industrial robots. These capabilities are made possible by four custom frameless motor sizes from Kollmorgen — a total of 42 motors between the four sizes — along with seven modified standard KBM series frameless motors.
Benefits of KBM series frameless motors include:
Direct load connection eliminates maintenance of gearboxes, belts, or pulleys; Zero backlash and compliance provides more responsive system performance; Eliminates coupling devices, reducing overall machine size; and
Embedded motor enables compact machine design.
Kollmorgen framelss motors.
“Kollmorgen engineers worked to design a compact and high-power-density motor, and worked hand and hand with CMU’s engineers to develop the high-power joint that really makes the human-like capabilities possible,” says Dave Graff, Kollmorgen regional sales manager for custom motor solutions.
Other CHIMP features include:
Like a chimpanzee, each extremity is equipped with a manipulator that enables it to grasp objects; Near-human strength and dexterity; On-board sensors build a texture-mapped, 3D model of the environment that CHIMP uses to maintain stability and prevent collisions; The same 3D model enables the operator to visualize the location and orientation of CHIMP and evaluate possible actions; The operator controls CHIMP using an immersive interface of a large screen monitor, keyboard, and mouse, choosing from multiple modes that blend manual and autonomous control of the robot.
The new drive joint design will help the CHIMP execute the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) challenge tasks.
In addition to the Tartan Rescue Team, Carnegie Mellon has a second team in the DARPA Robotics Challenge. Team Steel, headed by Christopher Atkeson, professor of robotics and human-computer interaction, was selected as a Track B team. In Track B, teams develop software in a virtual competition, with a winner receiving a DARPA-provided humanoid Atlas robot for use in the live competition. The final DRC event will be next year, with the winner receiving $2 million.
Other CHIMP technology sponsors include: Faulhaber (represented by MICROMO in the U.S.), Honeywell, Robotiq, Oshkosh, Elmo Motion Control, THK, Pratt Miller, Accurate Gear and Machine (AGM), and Eclipse Metal Fabrication.
For more information on the DARPA Robotics Challenge, please see:
What: American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix, Round 4 of the 2013 American Le Mans Series. The race airs live at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R – Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner
• Starting third in GT. Oliver Gavin qualified at 51.490 seconds (103.057 mph) Friday
• History at Lime Rock Park
◦ Oliver Gavin – Eight ALMS starts. Best finish: 1st (2004-05). One pole position (2008)
◦ Tommy Milner – Seven ALMS starts. Best finish: 2nd (2007, 2010)
No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R – Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen
• Starting fifth in GT. Antonio Garcia qualified at 51.537 seconds (102.963 mph) Friday
• History at Lime Rock Park
◦ Antonio Garcia – One ALMS start. Best finish: 2nd (2012)
◦ Jan Magnussen – Four ALMS starts. Best finish: 1st (2008)
Corvette Racing at Lime Rock
• Number of races: Nine
• Victories: Four (2004-05, 2007-08)
• Lime Rock Debut: 2004
• Team 1-2 finishes: Four (2004-05, 2007-08)
• First race: 2004 (1st and 2nd in GTS)
• First win: 2004 (Oliver Gavin/Olivier Beretta)
They Said It
“The rubber is going down, which is good. But the heat isn’t helping. It got pretty toasty out there toward the end of the free practice and at the beginning of qualifying. That’s not going to help tire life and certainly heat in the car. All of those things are going to play a part in the race.” – Oliver Gavin
“It’s one of the toughest races we will face. The level of stress is very high. You have no rest time and are on full attack during an entire stint. It’s difficult to keep your concentration level 100 percent the entire time with all the variables in place.” – Antonio Garcia
American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix (all times ET)
No. 74 Compuware Corvette C6.R – Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner, Richard Westbrook
• Starting seventh in GTE Pro. Oliver Gavin qualified with a 3:58.644 (127.754 mph) on Thursday
• History at Le Mans:
• Oliver Gavin – Twelve starts. Best finish: 1st (2002, 2004-06)
• Tommy Milner – Four starts. Best finish: 1st (2011)
• Richard Westbrook – Three starts. Best finish: 3rd (2010)
No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R – Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen, Jordan Taylor
• Starting eighth in GTE Pro. Antonio Garcia qualified with a 3:59.526 (127.257 mph) Wednesday
• History at Le Mans:
• Antonio Garcia – Four starts. Best finish: 1st (2008-09, 2011)
• Jan Magnussen – Fourteen starts. Best finish: 1st (2004-06, 2009)
• Jordan Taylor – One start. Best finish: 5th (2012)
Corvette Racing at Le Mans
• Le Mans Debut: 2000
• Victories: Seven (2001-02, 2004-06, 2009, 2011)
• Team 1-2 finishes: Four (2001-02, 2004-05)
• First race: 2000 (3rd and 4th in GTS)
• First win: 2001 (Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Scott Pruett)
100th Race with Michelin
The 2013 season is the tenth consecutive season for Corvette Racing as a Michelin technical partner team, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans will become the 100th race for the Corvette-Michelin partnership.
It’s been a fantastic first 99 between the two with 62 victories worldwide – five at Le Mans and 57 in the American Le Mans Series. Their ALMS success includes six wins at the Sebring 12 Hours; five at Petit Le Mans; and six driver, team and manufacturer championships.
Corvette Racing has won GT class honors in six of the last 13 ALMS races including Sebring (Gavin/Milner/Westbrook) and Laguna Seca (Magnussen/Garcia).
Jan Magnussen: National Hero?
The Danish contingent is out in force again at Le Mans, and a large gathering welcomed Jan Magnussen to its campsite. It’s not uncommon for more than 30,000 Danish fans to flock to Le Mans each year.
“To be at Le Mans as a Danish driver is one of the most fantastic things that a Dane can experience,” Magnussen says. “You have to understand that there are more Danish fans at Le Mans than at the biggest Danish race. We don’t have very big race tracks in Denmark. There are years where we have had upwards of 40,000 Danish people at Le Mans. It’s quite a drive! They go there, make a vacation and party out of it. There is no doubt their favorites are on track.”
You are offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride in a race car driven by motorsports veteran, Andy Pilgrim.
You suit up, put your helmet on, and climb into the car Dukes of Hazard style. The car is roaring and ready to go. But in a matter of minutes a rain storm sets in. Ugh. Now it is too dangerous to ride on a wet track with tires designed for dry conditions. So your trip around the course is reduced to a quick ride from pit lane to the paddock.
Now 15 minutes have passed, and the rain has stopped. But your ride in the race car still is not a go. Alternatively, a ride in the street version of the car is offered to you.
Do you take it? Yes. Are you a little disappointed? Sure. Does it end up being the thrill of a lifetime? Absolutely!
That was my experience at the Pirelli World Challenge Series in Detroit, Michigan when I rode in Cadillac’s 2013 CTS-V Coupe. 120 mph on a wet street race track is not what I expected at all! Who knew Cadillac, a brand known for luxury and comfort, has so much power?
Unless you are a racing aficionado, the Pirelli World Challenge probably is not a motor sports series that is familiar to you. It does not feature racings household names like Patrick, Gordon, or Castroneves. But what the 24 year old series lacks in star power, it makes up in performance.
The Pirelli World Challenge includes top of the line production based cars with four separate classes competition (GT, GTS, Touring Car, and Touring Car B-Spec). These race cars feature the same block and body of the vehicles that you would find on the showroom floor. In other words, there is a direct line from the manufacturer and aftermarket supplier, to the consumer.
Cadillac Racing competed in the series from 2004-2007, and due to the economic downturn it took a brief hiatus. But the racing team returned in 2011 stronger than ever. Since then its drivers Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim finished one-two in the 2012 GT Driver’s Championship. And Team Cadillac took home the 2012 Pirelli World Challenge Series GT Manufacturer’s Championship on the one-year anniversary of its first victory since rejoining the series.
2013 is shaping up to be another promising year for Team Cadillac. Sales are up 38%, (Cadillac’s best start since 1976) and its racing team is on pace to vie for another championship.
Forbes.com caught up with Cadillac’s Director of Emerging Markets, Jim Vurpillat, at the Cadillac V-Series Challenge in Detroit to talk about the V-Series, motor sports racing, and Cadillac’s quest to be the leading luxury and performance brand. Here are excerpts of our conversation.
On the V-Series and Cadillac Racing
Vurpillat: Our involvement in racing is about proving the performance credentials of the brand. When we started to develop our V-Series brand with our first generation CTS it was about getting our toe in the water, in that high performance category of BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, and proving that Cadillac performance can take on the worlds best.
With the second generation of cars, we just upped the game. The V-Series has been phenomenal for us. We’ve built up a following, and we’ve built up a great owner base. When we first got into it, there were a lot of people surprised. Now, they know we are there, and we have built up a lot of credibility.
On the similarities between Cadillac’s production cars and race cars
Vurpillat: One of the reasons why we got into this form of racing is because it is production based. That body comes right off of our assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan. It starts its life the same way a production car starts its life.
The base engine is the same it is a 6.2L V-8. The one difference is you can buy the production car supercharged. It produces 556 hp. The suspension geometry all has to be the same. Basically, 80% of the race car is production based.
On the economic downturn and its impact on Cadillac Racing
Vurpillat: We knew we were going to take a little hiatus in racing because that was the gap in between the first generation CTS family and the second generation. When we decided to come back, we probably could have come in a year earlier and raced the V-Sedan. But we thought it would be a good idea to race the Coupe. That pushed us into 2011.
The hiatus was the downturn and financial driven. As soon as things started to get better, Mark Reuss said to us “let’s go racing.” We put the race program together in about eight months, which is quick to build a race car, test it, and be out on the track.
On Cadillac’s marketing strategy
Vurpillat: Our series is usually linked with a bigger series, which is usually IndyCar. So we wanted to use that opportunity to engage fans and performance enthusiasts; and educate them about the Cadillac brand. The V- Series is credible and takes a backseat to no one. There is a lot to do at our displays. We talk about the Cadillac V-Series, Cadillac performance, our race program, and get them excited about it. Fans can come in and take ride in one of our simulators.
We have our V production cars there and that gives us the ability to attract fan interest. We take those leads and over a six-eight month period we track conversions to sales. That is how we determine our ROI with our investment on-site. On this program, we are well over a 5:1 ratio on our investment to payback which is phenomenal and off the charts. For us to be out on eight, nine, ten weekends with that commitment and those displays, it is a few million dollars.
On the future of Cadillac Racing
Vurpillat: I see our racing program growing. There is potential for us on a global basis and the possibility to race in some select races in China, Middle East and Europe. We can start to take what we’ve built here in the US as a series, and take that to some of our other markets.
For us being in a production-based series, there is a lot of excitement. The adage of race on Sunday, and sell on Monday is still there. It might not be the Monday after or a month after. It might be a year later. But it gets people excited and talking about it. What is more is engaging than “here is my car, and then here is the car on the track?”
BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, and Audi RS are great machines, and to have us in that consideration set says how far we’ve come as a brand and where we are going to continue to take it. For us it is a very simple strategy, it is about building the performance credentials of the brand. Racing falls under that. Our V-Series falls under that. We want people to think of Cadillac as performance and luxury. This is the beginning of a long journey.
Wonder what it is like behind the wheel of a Cadillac’s CTS-V Coupe? Here’s a lap of Detroit’s Belle Isle 2.3-mile, 13-turn concrete lined island circuit with Johnny O’Connell.
Compuware entries take eighth, ninth spots on GTE Pro grid
LE MANS, France (June 20, 2013) – Qualifying is complete for the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Corvette Racing firmly entrenched in what is its toughest fight at the world’s greatest endurance race.
The two Compuware Corvette C6.Rs will roll off eighth and ninth in the GTE Pro class at 3 p.m. CET/9 a.m. ET on Saturday following Thursday’s final qualifying sessions. Damp weather early in the first two-hour period hampered the team’s efforts to work toward improvements from Wednesday. The field did enjoy mostly dry running in the final period.
Oliver Gavin took advantage and improved the position and qualifying time for the No. 74 Compuware Corvette to 3:58.644. Antonio Garcia’s 3:59.526 from Wednesday’s session remained the best for the No. 73 Corvette. The pole time was a 3:54.635.
“The Corvette team is focusing on a race setup that will deliver the right combination of performance, handling, fuel economy and durability for this 24-hour race,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Add to that efficient pit stops, staying out of trouble and a little bit of racing luck, we can position ourselves to be up front in the GTE Pro class in the final laps of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
The focus now turns to final preparations for Saturday’s race start when Corvette Racing will go for its eighth class victory in 14 tries. The race will air live on SPEED starting at 8:30 a.m. ET Saturday. SPEED.com will feature live in-car camera videos of both Corvettes as well as a garage camera at stream.speedtv.com/corvette.
• Corvette 24-Hour Live Stream: 9 a.m. Saturday-9 a.m. Sunday
JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 73 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“The conditions were quite tricky in the first session since half the track was wet and the other half was dry. I ran on wets just to get my five laps in. I do believe we’ve made some headway in terms of car handling but we’re still down on speed.”
JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 73 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“I had a good little run, getting my five nighttime laps in to qualify for the race and I’m glad I did that without any mistakes. It was a bit tricky since the whole of the backstretch was wet and we were on slicks. That was my first time really experiencing that part of Le Mans, with the tricky conditions, so I’m glad to have gotten that out of the way and get a feel for the car before the race.”
OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 74 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“We gained a second, and it will be interesting to see where we picked that up. We’ve been working hard the last day to put together why we are where we are and why we aren’t as competitive as we want to be. Yes, we made some gains. Fundamentally, we still have to find that main reason for the deficit to our competition.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 74 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“You want to be competitive to run at the front, and we’re not quite there. We’ve improved the car handling-wise. Obviously faster is better than slower, so we’re going in the right direction. We are still working on it to find everything we can to find more speed.”
RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 74 COMPUWARE CORVETTE C6.R
“We wanted to see how long the wet tire can last in changeable conditions. It started off really wet and dried off quite a bit. So we got some really good data. Michelin is a great partner and it looks like we were able to give them some great feedback. It also was good for me because I’ve been at Corvette Racing for three years and had never driven in the wet! But the main issue is still there, which is straight-line speed.”
DETROIT, (June 20, 2013) – Team Cadillac driver’s Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim are at the halfway point of the Pirelli World Challenge Series. The duo currently sits second and fourth respectively in the GT driver points, with Cadillac and Audi tied for first in the manufacturer standings seven races into the 14 race schedule.
O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) is 146 points behind series leader James Sofronas. Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) is 59 points behind his teammate. O’Connell has had an up and down year, winning two races, the first at Circuit of the America’s (COTA), the second at Detroit. However, a 17th place finish in the second race at COTA and a 20 point penalty for avoidable contact in Detroit has put the defending 2012 Pirelli World Challenge GT Driver Champion back in the points.
Throughout the first seven races, Pilgrim has posted six top-five finishes with two second-place finishes at Long Beach and Detroit. An eighth place in the second race in the Motor City has put the series runner-up in 2012 hungry for points.
The increased competition, especially the presence of several very competitive Audi R8s, has raised the bar significantly in the Pirelli World Challenge GT Series for 2013.
“I think the competition is about what my engineers expected, once they saw what the rules would be,” O’Connell said. “Everyone was 100% certain that the Audi would have advantages, and the same to be said for the Volvo. But you need to give credit to the series for really evaluating data more than they ever have in the past to get the cars on equal footing. Last year we were leading the championship at this point, so I could be little more defensive than aggressive with my approach to a race weekend. Now that we are trailing in points, we need to attack at every event.”
“Penalties are never an easy thing for any sanctioning body to handout. I trust that the same standards will be applied to everyone for the rest of the season. I think we have the team to make up the points, but we’ll need to be spot on perfect for the second half of the season. I feel like I’m driving as well as I ever have in my career. My engineer John Lankes and I are getting better and better at understanding what we need in the car, and the entire team, led by Steve Cole and Mike West, are as focused as ever.”
O’Connell gives his projection on the rest of the season.
“We have done well on the street courses so far this year, and the remaining ones are both circuits I like,” he explained. “I’m really looking forward to Lime Rock. I saw my first race there when I was six years old and since I’ve won there in the Corvette. It would be nice adding a Cadillac victory there.. Sears Point is a circuit that I won at every time we raced there in the Corvette, but I’ve not had the results yet for Cadillac. I’ve always enjoyed Mid-Ohio.”
O’Connell is using the month off to compete for Dale Jr. Motorsports in the No. 5 Chevrolet at Road America in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend.
“It’s busy for me always,” he said. “I’ve been out to Bondurant to work on some things there, and I’ve also tested with Dale Jr. Motorsports to get ready to race for them at Road American in Nationwide, I’m looking forward to being a rookie again this weekend.”
Pilgrim knew the competition in the Pirelli World Challenge Series would be stronger than ever.
“The GT field is strong, exactly where we thought it would be,” Pilgrim said. “The Volvo’s will be very good if they are reliable. We knew the Audi to be a fast GT3 car and it’s been the strongest car out there and still is, even with the extra weight added. It has more aero in the slower and mid speed corners and that allows for very quick transitions. It’s going to be tough to deal with the rest of the season. I think the second half of the schedule will be a very tough fight with Volvo and Audi for manufacturer’s honors. No question we are in a dog fight. Johnny and I will be pushing our Cadillac’s to the maximum. There’s no other option. For my situation in the points, I am disappointed with what happened in the second race at Detroit as it was completely avoidable, but that’s racing sometimes.”
Pilgrim is looking forward to Sears Point.
“Only one of the coming tracks is a favorite of mine and that’s Sears Point,” he continued. “It’s a real drivers track due to the fact you’re never going straight there, which makes it unique. Also, I have never been to Houston so that will be interesting to see another new track this year. I really don’t mind whether a track is natural terrain or not, I just prefer tracks that are fast and we are not at any fast tracks for the rest of the year, but being at any race track is a good day. During my time out of the Cadillac, I’ve been finishing my next DVD, The Parent Driving Zone.”
The Pirelli World Challenge Series will return to action at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut July 4-6.
